NYSQ

NYSQ

New York Standards Quartet is on tour on the West Coast promoting its 6th CD, Sleight of Hand. The band is celebrating 13 years of touring and recording together, and is delighted to be appearing at Piedmont Piano Company for the first time. NYSQ are Tim Armacost (sax), David Berkman (piano), Ugonna Okegwo(bass), and Gene Jackson (drums).

$20 General Admission

After a life of travel and discovery on three continents, Grammy nominated saxophonist Tim Armacost has established himself as one of the most important improvisers on the New York scene today. Armacost was born in Los Angeles, but came of age as a musician in Tokyo, New Delhi, and Amsterdam, where he burnished his reputation as an upcoming talent, with a big tenor sound and an impeccable rhythmic sense. He tours regularly around the world both as a sideman and a leader. He has worked with a phenomenal number of jazz greats, including Al Foster, Jimmy Cobb, Kenny Barron, Tom Harrell, Billy Hart, Victor Lewis, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Peter Erksine, Ray Drummond, Roy Hargrove, Don Friedman and Randy Brecker. Armacost has recorded eight critically acclaimed records as a leader, has performed on more than 50 as a sideman, and has composed for Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. He is a widely respected educator, teaching at the Jamey Aebersold and Stanford Summer Jazz Workshops, at Queens College in New York City and as a clinician at universities throughout the U.S., Japan, and Europe.

David Berkman is a singular voice among the top pianists in the New York jazz scene, a world-class jazz veteran whose playing embraces and reflects his substantial knowledge of the jazz tradition, and displays his unique modern sensibility. He is an award-winning composer/bandleader, a recording artist whose 8 records as a leader have appeared on numerous “best records of the year” critic’s lists, and a renowned educator and jazz clinician who has taught at camps, universities, and conservatories around the world. He has performed with countless major jazz figures, including: Sonny Stitt, Brian Blade, Chris Potter, Joe Lovano, Billy Hart, Steve Wilson, Tom Harrell, Lenny White, Bill Stewart, Hank Crawford, Dave Douglas, and Buster Williams. He is the author of three books on jazz for Sher Music Publishing: “The Jazz Musician’s Guide to Creative Practicing” (2007), “The Jazz Singer’s Guidebook (2009)”, and “The Jazz Harmony Book” (2014). David Berkman is the director of Jazzz Studies at Queens College in New York.

Ugonna Okegwo is one of the most distinctive and sought-after bassists in the world. Born in London to a German mother and a Nigerian father, Okegwo was raised in Germany. There, he performed with Joe Newman and Oliver Jackson. Since his arrival in New York in 1989, he has become the bassist of choice for hundreds of bandleaders. He has played with Tom Harrell since the mid 90s and performed with most of the rest of the jazz community, including: James Spaulding, Al Foster, George Adams, Jimmy Cobb, Johnny Griffin, Wynton Marsalis, Junior Cook, Jackie Terrasson, Brad Mehldau, Kenny Barron, Lou Donaldson, Roy Hargrove, Josh Redman, Pharoah Saunders, and Kurt Rosenwinkel. He’s appeared at most major jazz festivals, the White House, and regularly at the top jazz venues around the world. He has played on over a hundred records as a sideman.

Gene Jackson is one of the most well-known and best-loved drummers of his generation. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he began touring with Kevin Eubanks in his 20s, while still living in Boston. After moving to New York in 1987, Jackson’s career blossomed. He worked with Herbie Hancock from 1991 to 2000 in a variety of bands that, at various times, included Dave Holland, Wayne Shorer and Craig Handy as members. Around this time, Jackson was also the drummer with Dave Holland’s Band until Herbie Hancock’s touring schedule made it impossible for him to work with both groups. Since then, Jackson has worked with most major living jazz performers, among them: Branford Marsalis, Gary Thomas, Robin Eubanks, The Mingus Big Band, Charles Tolliver, Christian McBride, Michelle Rosewoman, Clark Terry, Elvis Costello, Alex Sipiagin, Dave Kikoski, Seamus Blake and countless others. A committed teacher, Gene Jackson has worked at scores of schools, residencies, and jazz camps over the years, around the United States and internationally.